Apparatus for producing zinc powder



Sept. 30 1 924. 7' 1,510,071 F. J. A. WENNERGREN ET AL APPARATUS FORPRODUCING ZINC POWDER Filod Oct. 6' 1922 Fig Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

1,510,071 PATENT OFFICE.

' FOLKE JARL ANDERS WENNERGREN \AND FRIDTJOF ANDERSEN, F TROLLHATTAN,

SWEDEN, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TQ TROLLHLTTANS ELEKTRO-THERMISKA AKTIEBOLAG, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ZINC PDWDER.

Application filed. October 6,1922. Serial Ito 592,821.

To all whom it may concern:

,Be it known that we, FOLKE J ARL ANDERS WENNERGREN and FRIDTJOFANDERsEN, subjects of the King of Sweden, and residing .5 atTrollhattan, Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Producing Zinc Powder, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producingmetallic powder from certain metal vapors, such as zinc, lead, cadmium,aluminium and the like.

The apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

1 Figure 1 is a longitudinal view partly in section of the improvedapparatus.

Figs. '2, 3 and 4 are sectional views olmodified forms of powderdischarging devices forming part of the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1, A indicates an electrical reduction furnace; A andA the electrodes of the same; B a pipe for conveying metal vapors andnon-condensable gases from the furnace; C a cooling condenser, in whichthe metal vapors from the reduction furnace are subjected to intensecooling to convert the same into metal powder.

D is a cooled receiver into which the powder falls from the container C.H designates a discharge pipe for conveying noncondensable gases fromthe receiver. Said pipe H discharges into a fluid seal, (not shown). Theapparatus is maintained in a 33 known manner under a predeterminedsuitable pressure.

A conveyer E is arranged in the receiver D and functions to continuouslyconvey the powder to the outlet end of thereceiver.

It has been found from experience, that if said powder is pressed towarda vertical or nearly vertical surface, without having an opportunity toescape easily from the receiver, the powder will assume a more or less'45 solid consistency, and finally the powder .will be compactand willfill the whole re-.

ceiver D, so that the working of the conveyer will cease. According tothe invention, this inconvenience is eliminated by causing the powderco-change its direction of movement, and to accumulate at the outlet tosuch a height, that leakage of the gases is' prevented.

For this purpose, the outer end of the re of the receiver to that of thepitch of the thread of the remaining portion of the conveyer. Owing tothis construction, powder is forced through the receiver Dand upwardinto the outer receiver G to a certain height, so that the accumulatedbody of powder prevents the non-condensable gas from leaking out throughthe receiver G.

The receiver D is cooled by introducing a cooling medium at D anddischarging this medium at D In-a similar manner the outlet receiver Gis cooled by introducing a cooling medium at G and discharging the sameat G The ends of'the receiver D in which the shaft of the conveyer isjournaled, are cooled at O, O, O and O Referring to Fig. 2, F is abucket wheel, by means of which the powder is forced into the conduit.Said wheel is preferably provided with radially arranged blades and issituated opposite to the inlet end or mouth J of the conduit G. Eindicates the threads of the conveyer.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the conduit G is arranged at theextreme end of the receiver D, and the bucket wheel K has an end flangeK.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the conduit G extends longitudinally of thereceiver and forms an elbow, so that the powder transported in thereceiver D is pressed toward the oblique surface L of the outletreceiver G and is caused to rise to a certain height said receiverbefore leaving the outlet at The height, to which the powder is accumulated in the outlet receiver or conduit G for establishing a seal,is dependent upon the pressure of the gas or gases in the apparatus.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages of the invention may be readily understood and it is apparentthat changes may be made in the detailsdisclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the. invention as expressed in the claims.

What'is claimed and desired to be secured. by Letters-Patent is:v I

1. The combinatlon w1th a furnace for? producing metal vapors mixed withnon" dition, a powder outlet connected to said receiver and arranged tocause the powder to rise and form a powder seal at the outlet end of thereceiver, a gas discharge pipe connected to the receiver between thepowder inlet and outlet, and a conveyer arranged in the receiver andadapted to force powder along the receiver and into the powder outlet.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the conveyer is providedwith a bucket wheel arranged opposite to the powder outlet and adaptedto force the powder through the outlet.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the powder outlet is ofelbow shape for causing the powder to travel in a tortuous path inleaving the apparatus.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FOLKE JARL ANDERS WENNERGREN. FRlDTJOF ANDERSEN. Witnesses:

'INEZ VVENNERGREN,

KATE ANDERSEN.

